[coverattach=1](3-25-2009) BAYTOWN, Texas – Even with only the first of 10 scheduled events completed, the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Challenge has already garnered headlines in all the major drag racing media outlets and kept the pits a stir as the season-opener provided fans and racers alike with intense competition between nitrous-assisted, turbocharged and the majority supercharged, alcohol-burning majority. A class that has always been heralded for its diversity has struggled for the last few years as the supercharged contingent seemed to have a clear advantage over the nitrous cars, but the playing field has seemingly leveled over the course of the last year and the nitrous Pro Mod powerhouse of Al Anabi Racing is poised to capitalize.
Fresh off a win at the prestigious 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, Mike Castellana can’t help but be confident.
“We’re confident, we feel good,” said Castellana, checking in from the pits at Houston Raceway Park. “Our program is showing a lot of promise and after the success we had in Gainesville, we have no choice but to be confident. You always come in feeling that way after a big win.”
In years past, Houston has been good for incredible atmospheric conditions and a field full of the best Pro Modified racing has to offer. In 2008, though, it was a field comprised entirely of blown Pro Mods; this year both Mike Castellana and Burton Auxier will be on hand to represent the nitrous brotherhood, as well as His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani’s Al Anabi Racing.
“A big part of the allure to Pro Modified racing has always been the different combinations,” said Castellana. “It makes it more exciting for the fans, and even for the racers when there are a little bragging rights involved, on top of getting the win.
Again accompanying Al Anabi Racing’s veteran drivers in Castellana and Auxier, who appeared side-by-side in an all-nitrous final at the Gatornationals just weeks ago, will be “The Iceman” Shannon Jenkins, calling the shots and looking to repeat in south Texas.
Pro Modified qualifying begins for the 22nd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil on Friday at 1:30 PM. Please log onto Drag Race Central | Presented by Summitracing.com 1-800-230-3030 for round by round race results.
Fresh off a win at the prestigious 40th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, Mike Castellana can’t help but be confident.
“We’re confident, we feel good,” said Castellana, checking in from the pits at Houston Raceway Park. “Our program is showing a lot of promise and after the success we had in Gainesville, we have no choice but to be confident. You always come in feeling that way after a big win.”
In years past, Houston has been good for incredible atmospheric conditions and a field full of the best Pro Modified racing has to offer. In 2008, though, it was a field comprised entirely of blown Pro Mods; this year both Mike Castellana and Burton Auxier will be on hand to represent the nitrous brotherhood, as well as His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani’s Al Anabi Racing.
“A big part of the allure to Pro Modified racing has always been the different combinations,” said Castellana. “It makes it more exciting for the fans, and even for the racers when there are a little bragging rights involved, on top of getting the win.
Again accompanying Al Anabi Racing’s veteran drivers in Castellana and Auxier, who appeared side-by-side in an all-nitrous final at the Gatornationals just weeks ago, will be “The Iceman” Shannon Jenkins, calling the shots and looking to repeat in south Texas.
Pro Modified qualifying begins for the 22nd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil on Friday at 1:30 PM. Please log onto Drag Race Central | Presented by Summitracing.com 1-800-230-3030 for round by round race results.
